FON - some tips getting set up

[Canalsman]

I am off to France for the Winter ... last Winter I did the same and noted just how many FON spots there were but to which I could not connect (not having any logon credentials).

I don't have BT broadband, or any broadband at all in fact just using my 3 phone as a 3G hotspot.

So to get the necessary means to log on to FON spots meant buying a FON router. I struck lucky and bought a six year old example, brand new, for £13 on ebay.

This is where it started to get tricky. You have to set yourself up a FON account as the first step. Easy, you'd think, follow the instructions to register at fon.com.

However, there is no accessible link on the FON website. If you try, you end up with the assumption that you're a BT customer. After lots of digging using Google, I found this page on the web:

How to: Set Up a FON Spot

And within that the magic link:

https://www.fon.com/en/register/form

This is the link that I think they don't wish you to find.

After that the rest was fairly easy following the instructions that came with the router. (And using a neighbour's broadband connection to complete the registration and setup process.)

And it all works! I tested it by logging on to a FON spot near my house and surfing for free.

(The current model - FON Simpl - appears to be much easier to set up by the way ...)

 

[maingate]

Thanks for the info. We are getting so fed up with cold calls we are thinking of having our BT account and landline removed, just using mobiles. I would need a Fon simpl if we did that, so thanks again.

 

[Steve121]

I bought a FON Simpl a short while ago, and although registering an account (I'm not a bt customer) wasn't exactly user friendly, it wasn't particularly difficult. Tried it locally with varying success, but as yet not tried it abroad.

 

[Steve121]

Thanks for the info. We are getting so fed up with cold calls we are thinking of having our BT account and landline removed, just using mobiles. I would need a Fon simpl if we did that, so thanks again.

I get almost as many spam calls on my mobile as I do on my landline!

 

[Canalsman]

Thanks for the info. We are getting so fed up with cold calls we are thinking of having our BT account and landline removed, just using mobiles. I would need a Fon simpl if we did that, so thanks again.

Remember that the FON router still needs to be plugged in somewhere - in my case it will be at my daughter's house ..

 

[Geraldine]

Sounds very interesting , keep us informed about how you get on with it (Fon).
cheers
David

 

[winks]

Fon

Interesting thread.

I've not long retired from BT and swiftly ditched the total broadband package I had as an employee, gone on to Plusnet. I was not aware that FON was a stand alone organisation with telco partners in different countries. Never really needed to know when FON was all part of my broadband deal. I've been on the FON site and checked out the new Simpl router and it is €39 delivered and can be payed for with Paypal.

I'll be ordering one when I come back from holiday, so thanks for the lead in Phil.

Cheers

H

 

[Deleted member 12539]

I ordered a FON a few months ago, but not really had the opportunity to use it abroad, even though we purchased it (£39) for our Easter trip (we did not find the time).
We have however, used it at home, in the garden, it acts like a wifi booster. It has to be connected all the time and does not seem to affect our home internet connection when being used.

 

[iampatman]

Coverage is excellent in France, not so good in Spain. Have a look at the map here - Fon - Find Fon Hotspots Worldwide

Pat

 

[Wooie1958]

We connected through SFR W-Fi Fon network in France recently using my BT Broadband log in details with no problems what so ever.

That along with the 3 Mi-Fi we have meant we had internet access every day.

We need the internet so the wife can keep a check on her websites and answer any queries that arise.

 

[Wooie1958]

If you are connecting to SFR Wi-Fi Fon do not use the main log in section on the right.

Use the section slightly lower on the left which is highlighted in Yellow here

 

[Kontiki]

One of my daughters has BT broadband she lets me use her logon to get on the Fon or the BT network plus I can also watch BT sport.

 

[StevenJ]

I bought the Fon Simpl a while back , I have used the Fon / BT Fon network many times across the UK .

For a 1 off payment it's been well worth it , I did however spend a further £65 + for a Yagi directional aerial ( which significantly increases my chances of connection )

I also have a repeater which allows us to use none friendly usb devices such as tablets and smartphones.

Actually used the repeater as a hotspot for our fellow campers when we were on a small CL in Wales earlier this year

 

[Gee]

The full guide is here. http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/wild-camping-motorhome-chat/35993-guide-connecting-bt-wifi-fon-sfr-fon-hotspots-france.html
I been using the fonera simpl ( non BT) for 3 years and was great in France as well as my usual haunts in Scotland. Here's the map. If you have trouble following this excellent guide give adam a ring or webchat.
Here's the interactive coverage map Fon - Find Fon Hotspots Worldwide

 

[DocMartin]

I've just bought a fon box after seeing other members have been using them. Mine is a model FON2412A. I've plugged it in but what now? I can see it on my laptop wifi connections and I can connect to MyPlace. However, If I try to log on to a neighbors fon it asks for my email address and password. I don't remember ever putting in a password. If I go through the 'forgot password' routine it says instructions to reset my password have been sent but I don't get them. Its not spam filters either, the instructions just don't turn up. I find this too complicated and as far as I can see I bought something that serves no purpose to me at all.

 

[Val54]

I've just bought a fon box after seeing other members have been using them. Mine is a model FON2412A. I've plugged it in but what now? I can see it on my laptop wifi connections and I can connect to MyPlace. However, If I try to log on to a neighbors fon it asks for my email address and password. I don't remember ever putting in a password. If I go through the 'forgot password' routine it says instructions to reset my password have been sent but I don't get them. Its not spam filters either, the instructions just don't turn up. I find this too complicated and as far as I can see I bought something that serves no purpose to me at all.

It's a while since I purchased our Fon router but I remember that you do have to register the box on the Fon website and that includes setting up a nominated email/username plus password which you then use to access Fon hotspots. I think it did take a few hours to recognise the details on the Fon network but it has worked fine for us for over two years. If you haven't had any response from Fon it would tend to suggest that the registration process has not been completed. You could try searching the Fon hotspot map to see if it shows your home and/or your neighbour.
Dave

 

[DocMartin]

Well, I've been messing with this for 5 hours and got nowhere. When plugged into my Belkin router I lose the connection to the internet on both my desktop which has a wired connection, and my wifi laptop. I can get a connection through the Fon but I can't log in because I don't know the password. When I registered, I put in a password and was told I already had one. If I try to get a reminder sent I am told instructions have been sent to my email address and they have not. Every time I connect this box to my router my usual internet connection is disrupted in some unknown way and I have to unplug the Belkin to reset it and reboot the pc. I have had enough and it's going in the bin.

 

[Val54]

Well, I've been messing with this for 5 hours and got nowhere. When plugged into my Belkin router I lose the connection to the internet on both my desktop which has a wired connection, and my wifi laptop. I can get a connection through the Fon but I can't log in because I don't know the password. When I registered, I put in a password and was told I already had one. If I try to get a reminder sent I am told instructions have been sent to my email address and they have not. Every time I connect this box to my router my usual internet connection is disrupted in some unknown way and I have to unplug the Belkin to reset it and reboot the pc. I have had enough and it's going in the bin.

Sounds very odd, the only obvious way you would already have a Fon password is if you are a BT subscriber, then your credentials for Fon are the same as your @btinternet.com or @btopenworld.com email account details.
This article might help with the disconnect issue as I suspect you are trying to use both the Belkin and the Fon as routers:
https://support.fon.com/hc/en-us/ar...xtend-WiFi-coverage-at-home-using-the-Fonera-
Dave

 

[shortcircuit]

I have no experience of the Fon but would ask why you are connecting it to a router? I understood they connected directly to the laptop???? I am sure if you persevere you will get there and I have no doubt many have experienced your frustration. You can bin it in my direction if you give up.

I think I am talking rubbish so please ignore.

 

[Deleted member 13867]

Just a thought
Has the FON router got a WAN connection and a LAN connection/s?
If you plug a LAN connection from the FON router into your Belkin router LAN ports this will in effect give you two DHCP servers on one network and stop your normal internet connection. The Fon router WAN connection should plug into a LAN connection on your Belkin router. In theory anyway. What Fon router have you got and it should not be an ADSL one as you are plugging it into a router.
Dave